© Andrew AB Photography
An absolute treasure of a play – a joy to behold!!
I adore the Everyman theatre in Liverpool. Maybe because I was born and raised in Liverpool, or that the design of the theatre is so encompassing, almost like we the audience are part of the stage or because it’ a charitable theatre that always hosts astonishing shows.
Added to that, the opportunity to watch a Willy Russell (Liverpudlian playwright also born and bred in the city) masterpiece, being performed back on the floorboards of this fabulous theatre, reviving the one-woman play to the stage where it premiered in 1986, a great homecoming as the final show in the theatre’s 60th year celebrations. This was not something me or my 92-year-old mother were going to miss!
Willy Russell, who’s famous and fabulous shows include Blood Brothers, John, Paul, George, Ringo and ….Bert, Educating Rita and the crème de la crème – Shirley Valentine, would have been so proud of the performance tonight – it was astonishingly good and did him and the city proud!
The famous story of Shirley Valentine , a frustrated and bored housewife who through a one- off opportunity ends up staying on a Greek island , has many renowned scenes – the housewife who talks to her kitchen wall for company, the boat trip in Greece with the playboy / who shows Shirley how to embrace her body (especially her stretchmarks) and the disgruntled husband who flies to Greece to drag his “lost-the plot “ wife, back home to the kitchen sink where she belongs. Most people have seen the film whereupon Shirley is played by Pauline Collins and her husband by Bernard Hill and the Greek philanderer by Tom Conti – and remember the cast with affection, I was sure this play would have the same effect.
So, the filled theatre waited in anticipation as this Shirley Valentine took us on her adventures. The stage was set with 80’s kitchen attire and on walked a blond Valentine, carrying shopping bags and enthralling the arena in seconds. She was wonderful and the audience immediately warmed to the Liverpudlian actor Helen Carter, as she talked to the wall, eyed the audience as old friends and made her Hubbie egg and chips on a mince night! Helen Carter, who Russell himself stated was one of the ‘greats’ alongside Sheridan Smith, Julie Walters and Pauline Collins. Helen was faultless. She had humour, sarcasm, compassion, sorrow and humour all rolled into a bundle of effervescent brilliance. She shared with us tales of her childhood, her resentment of classmates, her rejections, her son’s demise as Joseph in the school play and the snobbery of her neighbour, and they all became our memories, someone we resonated with, and the rejection/embarrassment and jealousy were ours too.
We loved her, pitied her and encouraged her, and as she entered the kitchen with her pink suitcase and straw hat – the audience cheered. I have written down some of the hysterical one- liners that Helen spread across the auditorium straight- faced, but I won’t share them with you -that would dilute your experience.
In the interval, the audience shared their delight in what they had seen so far. Everyone was keen to return to their seats and see Shirley in Greece. The second act did not disappoint. Shirley on a beach in a swimsuit was still our adored adventurer but in a setting that somehow was more fitting. “Wall” became “Rock”, and she shared with it her antics on the sunny island. We were with her every step of the way. Her wayward and fickle friend Jayne, her saucy and wonderful boat ride, her English holiday maker friends – Dougie and Jeanette- who hated foreign food (muck!), yes, we could all relate to her experiences.
The play was a gem from the first to the very last second. Helen held the theatre in the palm of her hand, and we couldn’t take our eyes off her. Credit must also go to the director Stephen Fletcher as he did a remarkable job in this, a remarkable play. Russell, Stephen and Helen this was an amazing piece of theatre, a thoroughly enjoyable evening and a joy to have seen. Congratulations to you all!
Shirley Valentine is on at the Everyman theatre until Saturday 29th March – do not miss this!
Prices £21.00-£26.00 Shows at 7.30pm with Matinees. https://everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on/
Reviewer: Jan Mellor
Reviewed: 6th March 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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